The Best Dry Mouth Treatment, Depending on the Cause

Having a dry mouth makes it uncomfortable to do basic things like breathe, speak, and swallow. Kind of important stuff. The good news is that the best dry mouth treatment for you is out there—and you can try a few, depending on what’s causing you to feel so parched in the first place. “Dry mouth, or xerostomia, affects about one in five people,” Jessie Han, DDS, dental clinical site director at Flatbush Family Health Center at NYU Langone, tells SELF. While sometimes it’s fleeting—caused by regular ol’ dehydration or some mouth-breathing when you’ve got a stuffy nose—other times it can be chronic. And when it lingers, dry mouth can actually cause some downstream effects. “Not only does it feel plain uncomfortable or unpleasant to have a dry mouth, but it negatively affects your health,” Michael Lerner, MD, ear, nose, and throat specialist at Yale Medicine and assistant professor of surgery at Yale School of Medicine, tells SELF. If untreated, Dr. Lerner adds, it can lead to oral health problems, like fungal infections and tooth decay, and even make it hard to swallow How dry mouth can affect your oral and overall health “Saliva keeps your mouth clean, comfortable, and protected,” says Dr. Han. “When saliva production decreases, it can lead to a handful of oral issues.” Those include: Increased risk of cavities and gum disease (periodontal disease) Bad breath (halitosis) Burning sensations in the mouth Oral thrush (a fungal infection) Mouth sores, sore throat, or hoarseness Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or tasting food Discomfort when wearing dentures Beyond the mouth, a lack of saliva can also interfere with digestion, as saliva plays a key role in breaking down food and initiating [the process],” Dr. Han adds. Dr. Lerner explains: “Saliva contains enzymes that initiate the process of chemical digestion. For example, it contains amylase, which helps initiate the breakdown of starches. Saliva also helps lubricate the mouth, which facilitates chewing or mastication. Once we chew our food and it mixes with saliva, we are able to propel that food farther back into our throats with our tongue, which is a very important step in safe and efficient swallowing.” Long-term, constant difficulty chewing and swallowing can make it difficult to eat and result in malnutrition, Dr. Han adds. The discomfort of dry mouth can also lead to frequent night wakings—because you desperately need some water—which can disrupt your sleep and lead to daytime fatigue. TLDR: “Chronic dry mouth can significantly impact your quality of life,” Dr. Han says. Common causes of dry mouth It’s normal to have a dry mouth every now and then—your environment isn’t always the same, and sometimes you may not be so great at hydrating. There are some signs that dry mouth could be due to a bigger issue, though, according to Dr. Han: Advertisement It lasts more than two weeks It reoccurs frequently It isn’t relieved by drinking fluids It’s accompanied by other symptoms like dry eyes, fatigue, or joint pain Below, some of the most likely reasons your mouth could feel dry: Dehydration If your mouth is dry short-term, it could just be from temporary dehydration. This can happen as a result of low fluid intake or excessive fluid loss from sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea, says Dr. Han. Ultimately, these all reduce saliva production, which can leave your mouth feeling parched. Here are some other signs of dehydration, some of which are more subtle and easier to miss. Autoimmune disease “If you have dry mouth and try drinking more water to fix it but it doesn’t solve or cure it, it could mean there’s an underlying medical issue,” Natasha Bhuyan, MD, a family doctor at One Medical in Phoenix, Arizona, tells SELF. The most likely medical explanation is Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the glands that make tears and saliva. The two most common symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth. Sjogren’s often accompanies other autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, so if you have one of those and are noticing your mouth is extra dry, it could mean you’ve developed Sjogren’s too. Certain medications and treatments There are actually a lot of meds that can cause dry mouth. The most common culprits are antihistamines and ADD medications like Adderall. Some depression and anxiety meds can also cause dry mouth, as can decongestants like Sudafed, “because of the way it constricts blood vessels,” Dr. Bhuyan explains. “It’s intended to fix nasal congestion, but the medicine can’t just target nasal vessels, so it just makes everything dry.” Dry mouth is also a common side effect of pain medications and muscle relaxers. “People don’t often realize that,” says Dr. Bhuyan. Nonprescription illicit drugs like methamphetamine and other stimulants are known to cause dry mouth as well. In addition, certain cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the head and neck, and radioactive iodine therapy (sometimes used to treat thyroid cancer), can up your chances of having dry mouth, Dr. Lerner says. Snoring “Snoring is essentially a noise produced as a result of turbulent airflow through our noses or throats as we sleep,” says Dr. Lerner. “The nose acts as the body’s own air humidifier, and when it is not functioning well, this can lead to mouth breathing, which can really dry out the lining or mucosa of our mouths and throats.” But unless you have a bed partner to tell you that you’re snoring, you may not realize you do it. Some other signs that can tip you off include having a dry mouth mostly in the morning, a sore throat, and daytime fatigue, says Dr. Han. Advertisement Smoking Smoking tobacco can decrease saliva production and cause dry mouth—just another reason to kick the bad habit. You can try some methods to try to quit smoking on your own, but you may ultimately need to work with an addiction specialist or other clinician who can help guide you through the often challenging process. The American Lung Association also has some helpful resources for anyone trying to quit smoking. Sinus issues “Anyone with a deviated septum or nasal polyps may have a hard time breathing through the nose, so they’ll breathe through the mouth,” Dr. Bhuyan says. Cue the dryness. “You might think this is normal for you and may not even realize you have a deviated septum or other sinus issue.” If you typically have trouble breathing out of your nose (and not just when you have a nasty cold), check in with your doctor to see if there’s a structural issue. FYI, sinus issues can also contribute to snoring, so the two may be in cahoots. Dry mouth treatments The most effective way to treat dry mouth is to understand the root cause, and take steps to mitigate that. While you may not always be able to pinpoint what’s behind the dryness, there are a handful of things you can try to see if they help. Home remedies and lifestyle changes Focus on hydrating properly. Dr. Bhuyan underscores that for many, dry mouth is caused by dehydration, so drinking more water might just fix the problem. If you’re consuming approximately eight glasses a day and your urine is pale yellow (a sign of excellent hydration), you should feel better. Limiting caffeine may help too, as it can potentially dry out your mouth further. Increase saliva production. Chewing on sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free lozenges are easy ways to help increase moisture in the mouth, Dr. Han says. They work by activating the taste buds and stimulating the salivary glands to produce more saliva. Dr. Lerner suggests Xylitol-based lozenges, like XyliMelts or Dr. John's Healthy Sweets, which work by triggering the glands while also neutralizing acid and boosting tooth health. (Just be careful about consuming too much, because the sugar alcohol may cause some GI discomfort in people who are sensitive to it.) Sleep with a humidifier. If your dryness sets in at night or is the worst first thing in the morning, try snoozing with a humidifier. “Some doctors recommend you sleep with a humidifier; it moisturizes the room and can help keep your mouth moisturized,” says Dr. Bhuyan. (It’s also a great remedy for dry skin, so there’s a nice little bonus.) Quit your vices. If you smoke or use drugs, do what you can to kick the habit. (If you need some guidance, SELF has some helpful information on how to finally quit smoking cigarettes.) It will improve your overall health—in so many ways—and get your mouth feeling better too. Switch up your meds. If you think any of your prescription medications are causing dry mouth, check in with your doctor to see what you can do. Changing medications, if possible, may help. Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications Try a saliva rinse or spray. Alcohol-free mouth rinses and saliva substitutes, which come in the form of both sprays and gels, can also help to rehydrate your mouth, says Dr. Han. A few examples: Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse or Oasis Moisturizing Mouth Spray. Turn to OTC and prescription dry mouth treatments. If your dry mouth is chronic and/or caused by a Sjogren’s or a side effect of radiation, your doctor may write you a prescription for a drug that increases natural saliva production like pilocarpine (Salagen) or cevimeline (Evoxac). Related: Here’s How to Tell If You Are Dehydrated Can Tongue Scraping Really Cure Bad Breath? Here’s Why You Have Dry Skin on Your Face—And How to Deal